He had been unable to keep from sharing some of his blood with her. It was not enough to convert her, but it was more than enough to strengthen the mental and physical bonds they already shared. He could lie and tell himself he only did it because his blood would help heal her aches and bruises. But in truth, it was because he couldn’t resist the opportunity to tie Delight to him with every means at his disposal.

  Lucian wanted to be fair to Delight. But he was finding his primal instincts were much more powerful than the trappings of civility. Looking down at her with her short tousled hair and her pale blue eyes shimmering with desire, Lucian knew he’d never seen a woman look as beautiful as she did at that moment. Her face was lovely, with its heart shape, high cheekbones, and tip-tilted nose. And she was offering herself to him.

  It took all his strength not to toss her facedown on the bed and devour her. He craved her. His hands, which were always rock-steady, shook with a lust so strong he knew he would stop at nothing to have her. He extended his hand and cupped one of her lovely pale breasts. Using his thumb, he stroked around the edges of her turgid nipple.

  Delight closed her eyes and tilted her head back, a soft cry escaping her parted lips. Her neck was totally exposed to him as she knelt beside him with her legs slightly spread.

  Unable to resist the lure of her body, he sifted his fingers through the soft nest of curls covering her mound, letting them slip deeper to stroke her wet flesh and her swollen clit. She sucked in her breath when his finger rubbed the small bundle of nerves, her hips rocking toward him.

  A light sheen of sweat covered his body. Every muscle clenched in anticipation of what was to come. His fangs extended and ached to sink into her sweet flesh and taste her blood.

  The time had come.

  “Turn around and kneel up on your hands and your knees.” His voice was harsh and she flinched slightly when he spoke, her eyes coming to rest upon his face. She licked her lips, looking uncertain. “I want to fuck you from behind, and I want you to offer yourself to me.” He removed his hands from her body. “Do it.” Would she do it or would she run?

  Lucian was a man at war with himself. Every animalistic, primitive instinct in him insisted that he mount her and fuck her. The logical, sane part of him knew that it had to be her choice or it was worth nothing.

  For a long moment, Delight didn’t move. Then ever so slowly, she turned so she was facing the head of the bed with her back to him. She leaned forward and planted her palms on the mattress so she was supporting her weight on her hands and knees. Lucian swallowed back a howl of triumph but could not suppress the exaltation that flooded him.

  Taking his time to prolong the pleasure, he caressed the back of one of her legs before tapping the inside of her thigh with one of his fingers. “Bend down a bit and spread your knees apart.” He slipped his finger inside her moist sex and pulled it out again. Delight arched her bottom up and widened her legs.

  She was the most enticing creature he’d ever seen. Her smell, taste, and the feel of her supple flesh intoxicated him. He’d have all she had to offer and then some before they were finished tonight.

  He trailed his damp fingers from her clit to her tight channel, smiling when she pushed toward his fingers, seeking to deepen his touch. “I’m going to touch you, taste you,” he promised. Lucian bent forward and licked. She shivered deliciously but didn’t move.

  “Perfect,” he whispered, blowing on her damp sex even as he thrust two of his fingers into her eager core. Her inner muscles gripped his fingers and he almost came then and there. The sight of her offering herself to him almost sent him over the edge. His testicles were so tight it was almost painful and the head of his cock was wet with his own arousal. He eased his fingers out of her eager body, brought them to his mouth and tasted her essence.

  It was time to claim his woman. Lucian knelt up behind her and moistened the head of his shaft on her cream.

  Delight was panting hard, her hips moving, seeking him. “Now, Lucian.”

  “Yes,” he hissed as he gripped her hips in his hands, thrust forward, and buried his cock deep. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth to keep from coming immediately. She felt so damned good wrapped around him, squeezing him.

  He was so much bigger and stronger than Delight. That she trusted him with her body was a miracle considering how short a time they’d known one another. Some would say he was taking advantage of the shock she’d had this evening. And maybe they’d be right, but he wasn’t about to stop, not when she was ready and waiting for him.

  He leaned forward, his chest covering her entire back. The sweet scent of her arousal wrapped around him. He nipped at her shoulder, careful not to break the skin, and then kissed a trail down the center of her back. Her skin was incredibly soft.

  Wanting to touch more of her, he slipped his hands up her torso until his palms covered both her breasts. Her nipples stabbed the center of his palms as he moved them in a circle, stimulating her to even greater arousal. She was making little whimpering noises that were driving him wild. She sounded so damn sexy.

  Need pulsed in his head and in his cock, a pounding rhythm that increased with each passing second. He withdrew until only the head of his shaft was still inside her before thrusting inward. Her slick channel rippled and squeezed. He fondled her breasts, using his hold on them to guide her so she pressed back to meet his thrusts as he stroked in and out of her body. His rhythm increased until he was pounding harder and faster into her moist core.

  Delight was breathing rapidly. Her inner muscles quivered and gripped him hard. She was so tight and wet he almost lost his mind. His fangs ached to taste her, but he wouldn’t, not until she found her pleasure.

  Lucian stroked one hand down her torso and buried it between her legs. She moaned when he rubbed her clit. She was wild now, driving for completion. His testicles pulled up hard and tight against his body and his cock began to spasm. He fondled her clit and drove into her with one last, hard stroke. Delight came apart in his hands, her body clamping down on his cock. As she shivered and shook, her body milking him dry, he leaned forward and buried his face in the curve of her neck.

  He licked her salty skin once before sinking his fangs into her sweet flesh. Her blood spurted into his mouth, and she shrieked as the intensity of her orgasm increased. He could feel her coming again and reveled in her sexual pleasure. His own orgasm seemed to last forever as he poured himself into her body. Both of them were gasping for breath when he finally felt her slump forward on the bed. Only his grip on her kept her from collapsing completely.

  He slid his fangs free and closed the small wound on the side of her neck. Then he kissed the already healing puncture wounds before lowering her to the mattress. She gave a muffled groan and buried her face in the pillow. Lucian eased away, swearing softly when her inner muscles gripped him, making it more difficult for him to leave her. Beads of sweat trickled down his back as he disengaged from her welcoming body.

  She lay there, totally still and unmoving except for the slight rise and fall of her shoulders as her breathing returned to normal. Lucian was filled with a contentment he’d never known before. He could pass many happy hours just watching her. A line of goose bumps appeared on her body and she shivered slightly. He didn’t like her being cold, so he tugged the covers out from under her and tucked them around her naked body. Delight gave a little sigh of contentment and snuggled under the sheets.

  Whether she knew it or not, she was his now. He would never let her go.

  Lucian pushed a lock of hair off her forehead before smoothing his fingers down the soft skin of her cheek. Like a contented kitten, she pushed her face closer to his hand. She might seem soft and cuddly now, but he knew deep inside beat the heart of a lioness. That fact was never more evident than earlier this evening. Outnumbered and weaponless, she’d fought for her life, never giving up her struggle against attackers much larger than herself. Delight had used her intelligence and what physical strength she possessed to fight. She was indeed a worthy mate for a Dalakis.

  Watching her now, one would never know she had been attacked. Her bruises were almost faded, and by the time she awoke they would be totally healed. His blood would see to that. In the meantime, he knew Stefan would have gathered much information about the men who had attacked her. Lucian would not leave any loose ends. If someone was still after Delight, he would take care of them.

  Anger built inside him once again and he had to force himself to relax. He would allow nothing or no one to threaten her. Whatever the problem, it would be dealt with. Right now, he wanted to enjoy the pleasurable sensations flowing through his body. He had achieved the deepest sexual satisfaction of his life only moments before, but already his body was clamoring for more. His cock stirred once again as he watched Delight sleep.

  Knowing he’d pushed her too hard, he resigned himself to celibacy for the rest of the night. Delight had been through a trauma tonight and then he’d worn her out with his lovemaking. The last thought made him smile. This was just the beginning for them. There would be many nights when they would make love all night long. He would make sure of it.

  He would have to court her as well. There had been no time to ease into a relationship, and he knew her natural inclination would be to pull back from the intensity of their first encounter. He could not allow that. Instead, he would offer her space and woo her with a determination that would leave her breathless and wanting more. She would think it was all her idea, when she finally came to him. Pleased with his plan, Lucian gave a decisive nod before leaning over and placing a soft kiss on Delight’s lips.

  Carefully, so as not to disturb her, he rolled out of bed and padded naked to the window. The sun would be coming up within the hour, so he closed all the shutters, making sure they were locked down securely. Delight didn’t stir when he opened the closet door and pulled out his robe. Before he left the room, he turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into darkness. Not wanting her to wake in total darkness and panic, he turned on the light in the bathroom and eased the door almost closed. The light filtering through the crack acted like a nightlight.

  He shut the bedroom door behind him and went downstairs. Stefan was waiting for him in the library. His brother was sprawled in a comfortable leather chair with his feet propped up on a hassock. He held a crystal goblet filled with expensive French brandy laced with blood.

  Lucian raised one of his eyebrows and waited. Stefan saluted him with his glass and took a sip before launching into a full report.

  “The men who you dispatched in the alley were local thugs, both had ID on them. They were employed by one Mr. Jethro Prince.” Stefan put his feet on the floor and pushed out of his chair. He set his glass of the lacquered table beside him before strolling over to the decanter on the antique sideboard. He removed the heavy crystal stopper and filled another goblet. The crystal clinked as he returned the stopper. The amber liquid swirled in the glass and the rich scents of brandy and blood perfumed the air as Stefan offered it to him.

  “Go on.” Lucian accepted the glass and took a sip. He wanted to pace so he forced himself to take a seat. From the way his brother was stalling, he knew he wasn’t going to like what was coming next.

  “Prince is a powerful crime lord. He has his fingers in every pie in the city—prostitution, drugs, gambling. If there’s an illegal way to make a buck, he is involved.” Stefan ambled back to his chair and sank back into its comfort. He picked up his glass, warming the goblet between his hands for a moment before taking a large swallow. “He is also rumored to be half insane, as well as being a sadistic little bastard who likes to hurt people. His temper is well known among his associates, as people who cross him tend to turn up missing or dead.”

  Stefan took another drink from his glass. “I followed their trail back to the restaurant where Delight works. The man she saw murdered tonight was her manager, James Brenner. From what I have been able to piece together, he owed Prince a big chunk of change for a gambling debt. Word is that Prince thought Brenner might have talked to the authorities, so he had to be made an example of. Hence the killing instead of just breaking his legs. You can’t get money from a dead man.”

  Stefan subsided and Lucian curbed his impatience, knowing his brother would finish in his own good time. His eyes were burning red in anger when he finally met Lucian’s gaze. Lucian had never seen his brother this angry before.

  “It was only by accident that Delight was even there. The bastard Brenner had her stay late to work on inventory, so she just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They would have raped and killed her just because she was unlucky enough to be there.” Stefan tossed back the remains of his drink. “There was another man there tonight as well.”

  Lucian was totally alert now as he sat forward in his chair. “Who?” His eyes promised retribution to the unknown man who had helped hurt his Delight.

  “His name is Smith. He is Prince’s enforcer. His right-hand man, so to speak. Another sadistic bastard from all accounts. He would have been the one to order Delight’s murder. The other two did not have enough brains between them to make a decision, just muscle and meanness.”

  Lucian carefully placed his glass on the table in front of him before he accidentally crushed the fragile crystal with his bare hand. “I will pay a visit to Mr. Prince.” He’d kill the man without a single qualm if it came to that. Nobody would be allowed to hurt Delight again.

  Stefan nodded and echoed his thoughts. “Prince and Smith will have to be dealt with.”

  Lucian knew he could count on Stefan’s help in protecting Delight. He had claimed her, and as such, she was under Dalakis protection and all that it entailed.

  Stefan’s voice broke into his thoughts. “When she wakes, you can let her know the night janitor was just wounded. Apparently he was working with his headphones on when they arrived so they just hit him from behind. He will be fine in a few weeks, but he does not know anything.

  “I did some digging through the files at the restaurant and found her home address. She has a younger brother and is his legal guardian.”

  “Chase.” Lucian had caught a glimpse of the young man in Delight’s memories. When she was being attacked, her biggest concern had been for her brother.

  “Yes. I visited him while he slept and planted the suggestion that Delight was fine and that he did not expect to see her until tomorrow night because she was staying with a friend.”

  His brother had been busy indeed while he’d been seeing to Delight. Once again, he was grateful to have Stefan’s help, but Lucian didn’t thank him, as he knew it would just piss his brother off. They were Dalakis. Helping one another was what they did.

  Lucian nodded. He didn’t need to say anything. They were so close he knew that Stefan understood everything that went unsaid between them.

  Stefan glanced at the covered windows and Lucian knew his brother was feeling the same lethargy spreading through his own body as he was, heralding the coming sunrise. It was the one major drawback of being who and what they were.

  His brother rose from his chair and headed toward one of several hidden passageways that connected their two houses. “Keep her close. We will deal with this situation tomorrow night. I left her home address on your desk.”

  Before Lucian could speak, his brother was gone. He could sense Stefan moving swiftly through the hidden tunnel toward his own home. Lucian did a mental sweep of the house, making sure everything was locked up tight. He knew that Stefan would have already done this, but he wasn’t taking any chances with Delight’s safety.

  As he climbed the stairs toward his bedroom, he could hear the soft sounds of Delight’s breathing and the gentle rhythm of her heart. Having her in his bed, waiting for him, filled him with a strange combination of lust and tenderness that was almost overwhelming. In his short time with her, she had managed to make him feel more emotions than he had in several hundred years. Without even trying, she had laid a gentle siege and claimed his heart.

  He closed the bedroom door and secured it before removing his bathrobe and slipping under the covers. Delight rolled toward him, seeking his warmth and comfort. He wrapped her in his arms and eased her head down onto his chest. Her breath tickled his skin and his cock twitched in response to her nearness.

  Dawn was just breaking, but he had one last thing to do before he could seek his rest. He cupped the back of her head and focused all his mental power on Delight. “You will sleep until I awake tomorrow night.” With that command given, she would not wake until he did. It was one of the many talents he possessed as a vampire.

  Satisfied, he settled himself in the comfort of his bed, and with Delight clasped tight in his arms, he awaited sleep. The moment the sun crossed the horizon, a deep lassitude filled him and he gave himself over to rest. He stilled, his breathing stopped, and his body ceased to function.

  Knowing Delight would be here when he awoke, he allowed himself to sleep deeply.

  Chapter Eight

  Delight fought her way out of sleep. She usually awoke easily, alert and energized to start her day. But for some reason, this morning it was as though she was trying to swim through quicksand just to scratch the surface of wakefulness. Her limbs were heavy and her eyes felt as if they had lead weights attached to them.

  It would be so easy to drift back to sleep, toward the beckoning darkness, but she resisted. In the back of her mind, something was nagging her. There was something she had to do. Something important.

  She frowned and desperately tried to remember what it was she needed to know. A dull throbbing behind her eyes made it almost impossible to think. That in itself was strange as she rarely ever had a headache.

  Delight took a deep breath and forced her eyes to open. Squinting, she peered through the darkness and could just make out the shapes of the furniture. Immediately alarmed, she tried to sit up in bed and found that she couldn’t move. This was not her bedroom!

  Where was she? What had happened?